Finals are here!
September is among us, which means for footy fans around Australia, we say good bye to the bottom 10 teams, and say hello to finals football! This home and away season saw fans sitting with baited breathe until minutes to go in the last game, as Port Adelaide beat Fremantle, meaning Freo was eliminated and Carlton, even after their loss to St Kilda, crept into 8th.
That means the 8 is settled, with Sydney, Port, Geelong and GWS earning the double chance, with Brisbane, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Carlton making up the other 4 spots.
Week 1 of the finals sees Port Adelaide hosting Geelong to open proceedings on the return of Thursday night football at Adelaide Oval. Port fans will be hoping this is finally their year, after having such high expectations over the last few seasons. Geelong, after a form slump mid-season has regained form to earn the double chance, and will be hoping Jeremy Cameron can continue his strong goalkicking form.
Western Bulldogs host Hawthorn on Friday night at the MCG, in what many are calling a battle of two of the most inform teams currently. The Bulldogs will be hoping to recreate 2016, by winning the premiership from outside of the top 4. Hawthorn started the season 0-5, and as strong as their social media presence is at the moment, the attention should be on the field, as their team has continued to shock many by finishing in the 8, and were a win away from 2nd.
Super Saturday commences with the Sydney derby, which has been won by Sydney on both occasions so far this season, but with their form towards the end of the season taking a hit, they will be wary of the rising Giants, who have won 7 straight to march towards finals and earning a top 4 berth.
Finally Brisbane host Carlton in a re-match of last years Prelim Final, and with 2 teams in vastly different form. Brisbane started slowly, until a post bye push has put them as one of the teams to beat come September. Carlton on the other hand crept into the 8, with injuries really putting a dampen onto a season that once held so much expectations.
The Sherrin Finals range can be found here.